BRIDGETON — A Vineland man found guilty of shaking his infant son so violently that the 2-month-old child later died was sentenced Friday to 14 years in state prison.

Ronald L. Cuff Jr. 20, was sentenced before Judge James Swift on the charges of second-degree reckless manslaughter and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Cuff must serve 10 years in state prison with the No Early Release Act applying consecutive to an addition four year flat sentence, for an aggregate of 14 years, according to the county Prosecutor's Office. Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Vogelsong handled the matter for the state.

The sentence handed down in Superior Court in Bridgeton was in connection with the incident that took place on July 25, 2011 at Cuff’s residence located at the Park Towne Apartments on West Chestnut Avenue.

Cuff is required to serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence in New Jersey state prison.

At Friday’s sentencing, Public Defender Charles Sandilos cited a report introduced during the course of the trial from a neuropsychologist representing the defense that claimed Cuff was “ill-equipped to be a parent,” due to his “severe life-long psychological illness of Bipolar Disorder.”

Sandilos said the report, which found Cuff to be “deeply disturbed” resulting his psychological hospitalization on several occasions, should not hold Cuff accountable for his son’s death.

Sometime after Cuff abused the infant, the child’s maternal grandparent claimed the child and rushed him to South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center, in Vineland.

The child was later transferred to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, in Wilmington, Del., where he remained in critical condition. The child died on Aug. 2, 2011 of traumatic brain injury caused by the defendant.

Meanwhile, Cuff was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Detectives from the county Prosecutor's Office and the Vineland Police Department conducted the investigation.

A murder charge was then added to Cuff’s case, the prosecutor’s office arguing the child died as a result of the serious injuries sustained from his hands.

Cuff originally faced the charges of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and the second-degree charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

A second defendant, Melina A. Vega, of Millville, was also indicted in connection with the incident for two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. On March 4, 2011 Vega accepted a pre-trial intervention (PTI) agreement.